Biography

 

 

Representational artist specializing in pastel and oil art capturing the unique spirit of animals. An invitation to pause, reflect, and find a deeper connection to the living world.

 

Brenda Matsen is an international award-winning artist specializing in wildlife and animal realism through pastel and oil. Growing up on a farm in northern British Columbia, Brenda developed a lifelong passion for observing animals in their environments. After a 30-year career in health care, she relocated to Vancouver Island in 2018 to focus entirely on painting the natural world.

 

Working from her own reference photos, Brenda captures the unique spirit of animals and wildlife across western Canada. She has earned esteemed recognition internationally and holds prestigious master and signature designations with major Canadian art societies and Artists for Conservation. A dedicated conservationist, she actively supports wildlife rehabilitation by donating a portion of her proceeds to MARS Wildlife Rescue in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island in western Canada.

 

Support for Conservation: 

I rescued a Mallard duckling earlier this year who had waddled past, outside my Art Room window while I was working. I caught his movement out of the corner of my eye and had to wait until he reemerged from the other side of our hydrangea bush to get a better look.  When I realized it was a duckling, I grabbed my camera and headed out our backdoor to learn more. I expected his mother to show up and rescue him as I watched from a distance, wondering what his story was and why he was in our back yard as we weren’t near any significant sources of fresh water. After realizing there was no worried mother coming to rescue him, I found a cardboard box and carefully put him inside to keep him safe from predators. I phoned MARS Wildlife Rescue, and they were able to take him and identified him as a Mallard duckling. I was delighted for this opportunity to meet the staff and learn more about MARS Wildlife Rescue.

I am appreciate all that MARS Wildlife Rescue does to help our native wildlife in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, BC  and excited to have found a way through Artists for Conservation to use my artwork to help MARS Wildlife Rescue with their Mission “To conserve and protect native wildlife and its natural habitat through education and rehabilitation.”

I am honoured to be an Associate Member with Artists for Conservation (AFC).  I care deeply about wildlife, nature and our environment and I am grateful for this opportunity to work with AFC to make a positive difference towards a common goal. 

 

Special Achievements: 

2026 

  • Finalist - Artist Magazine & American Artist The Best of Drawing: Strokes of Genius 18 Competition 
  • Honourable Mention - Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) - 2026 Medals Exhibition
  • AFC - Signature Member status - Artists for Conservation
  • Inclusion in Artists for Conservation Book -  Artists for Conservation 2026 International Exhibit of Nature in Art publication.
  • Honourable Mention - Pastel Artists.CA (PAC) - 36th Purely Pastel Open Competition
  • Juried into 2026 Medals Exhibition (Signature Members Only) - Federation of Canadian Artists 
  • Inclusion in CP Magic! February 2026 Issue. Colored Pencil Showcase 2025  (p. 37)

2025  

  • Inclusion in Pastel Journal Issue No. 152 - "Making a Mark" article (p. 36)
  • Inclusion in Artists for Conservation Book -  Artists for Conservation 2025 International Exhibit of Nature in Art publication.
  • Finalist - Artist Magazine & American Artist The Best of Drawing: Strokes of Genius 17 Competition 
  • Finalist: Outstanding Pastel - BoldBrush June Painting Competition by juror S.C. Mummert
  • Certificate of Merit - Portrait Society of Canada 2025 Animal Portrait Competition
  • Inclusion in CP Magic! February 2025. Special Issue Five Year Retrospective. Issue No 62. (p. 13)

2024  

  • Finalist - Portrait Society of America: Members Only Open Online Juried Exhibition  - Animals as the Subject
  • Associate Member status - Artists for Conservation
  • Signature Membership (SFCA) Award (1 of 6 awards) - Federation of Canadian Artists 2024 Success! Fall Exhibition
  • SCA Elected Member status - Society of Canadian Artists
  • SFCA Signature status (previously called Senior status) - Federation of Canadian Artists
  • People's Choice Award - Portrait Society of Canada 2024 Animal Portrait Competition 
  • Finalist: Outstanding Pastel - BoldBrush September Painting Competition by juror Erica Norelius 
  • Second Place - Pastel Artists.CA 34th Purely Pastel Open Exhibition 
  • Top 100 Finalist (2 works) - PleinAir Salon PleinAir Magazine's 14th Annual Plein Air Salon Art August Competition
  • Finalist - Artist Magazine & American Artist The Best of Drawing: Strokes of Genius 16 Competition  
  • Honourable Mention - Federation of Canadian Artists 2025 365 Online Exhibition and Calendar Contest 
  • MPAC Master Pastelist status - Pastel Artists.CA

2023

  • FIRST PLACE  - Portrait Society of America: Members Only Open Online Juried Exhibition -  Animal as the Subject
  • Third Place - Pastel Artists.CA Purely Pastel  11th Annual Members Only Open  Online Juried Exhibition 
  • Top 100 Finalist - PleinAir Salon October PleinAir Magazine's 13th Annual Plein Air Salon Art Competition
  • IGOR Juried in Member - International Guild of Realism (IGOR)
  • Third Place  - Federation of Canadian Artists Arrowsmith Chapter Fall Exhibition 
  • PAC Signature Pastelist status - Pastel Artists.CA 

2021

  • Honorable Mention - Artist Magazine & American Artist The Best of Drawing: Strokes of Genius 13 competition  
  • Guest Artist with feature Coloured Pencil Tutorial  - CP Magic! Magazine   

2020

  • Top 100 Finalist - Southwest Art  Artistic Excellence 2020 Competition